Musings

16 - Red String

It had existed for as long as I remember.
Freely residing around my pinky finger,
A thin red string leading to nowhere.

I knew that it really led me to my fated,
But for a child who couldn't leave the house,
It was like reaching out for the stars
With my feet chained heavily into the ground.

I often dreamt about you then
About how you would be like
I was hoping you'd be the silent mature type
With an air of elegance always surrounding you
A gaze that seems cold to others
Because you'd save the warmth only for me.

Soon, the thread finally led to somewhere.
I remember excitedly following it
That was the first time I saw you.
In the middle of a group of friends,
Bright and charming, loud and friendly.
Like the Sun, everyone surrounded you
And you gave each of them a warm smile.
You turned to me
To hand me one of your warm smiles
It scorched me.
But I wasn't picky.

I remember when I finally showed you
How the red string connected us together.
You gave me one of your warm smiles
And I hated it.
I saw it in your eyes.
So I claimed that it was silly.
A tale for fools.
An outdated belief.
You agreed, nodding quietly
When I was hoping you wouldn't .

Years passed and I was still chained to you.
I had hoped that fate would work it out
But you only drifted further away
Until my string led to nowhere once again
And I was reaching out for the stars
While chained to you.

Under the stars, I sit beside you
As you finally remove your mask,
Unravelling all of your lies and sins,
And destroy the last chain
That surrounded my ankles for years.
I stare at the red string around my finger
How could a thin red string
Be so heavy?
"I hate you."
I take out a small knife
Edge just touching the string
"Go ahead," you say.
So I cut.